10 things about Haile Gebrselassie

A smiling runner in a green Ethiopia team vest with an Ethiopian flag over his shoulders — A runner in a green Ethiopia team vest with an Ethiopian flag over his shoulders [file photo]. Place, date and photographer unknown.

Haile Gebrselassie is one of the greatest distance runners in history. Here are key moments from his career, each drawn from a published source.

1. Two Olympic titles

He won Olympic gold in the 10,000 metres at the 1996 Atlanta Games and again at the 2000 Sydney Games, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

2. An early start

His international career began in 1992, when he won the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres at the world junior championships in Seoul, World Athletics reported.

3. Four world 10,000 metre titles

World Athletics credits him with four world titles over 10,000 metres.

4. 27 world records and bests

Over his career he set 27 world records or world bests on the track and road, at distances from 2000 metres to the marathon, according to World Athletics.

5. The first marathon under 2:04

At the 2008 Berlin Marathon he ran 2 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds, the first marathon under two hours four minutes, World Athletics and BBC Sport reported.

6. A marathon debut in 2002

World Athletics dates his marathon debut to 2002.

7. London 2007

Before New York in 2010, the only marathon he had failed to finish was London in 2007, according to World Athletics.

8. Great North Run

Seven weeks before New York, on 19 September 2010, he won the Great North Run half marathon in England in 59 minutes 33 seconds, World Athletics reported.

9. More than 130 wins

BBC Sport described him as a runner who had won more than 130 major races.

10. A retirement that did not last

On 7 November 2010 he dropped out of the New York City Marathon after 16 miles with a swollen right knee and announced his retirement at the age of 37. “I have never thought about retiring before. But for the first time, now, I think this is the day,” he said, as quoted by World Athletics. He had said the race was the start of his preparations for the London 2012 Olympic marathon. He reversed that decision days later and continued racing, BBC Sport reported in November 2010.

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